PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF CASSIA TORA LEAVE AND SEED OBTAINED IN MAIDUGURI BORNO STATE
Abstract
Cassia tora, a widely distributed plant in tropical regions, has been recognized for its diverse ethnomedicinal and nutritional uses. This study was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and elemental composition of the leaves and seeds of Cassia tora to scientifically validate its therapeutic potential and assess its nutritional value. The samples were collected, air-dried, powdered, and subjected to standard extraction procedures using ethanol as a solvent.
Preliminary phytochemical screening of both the leaf and seed extracts revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids, and phenols, all of which are known to possess significant biological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. The concentration and variety of these phytochemicals varied between the leaves and seeds, with the leaves showing slightly higher content in most of the active constituents.
Elemental analysis was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) to determine the levels of essential and trace elements. The results indicated the presence of elements such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in appreciable amounts, with negligible or non-detectable levels of toxic heavy metals like lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg), suggesting the safety of the plant parts for potential therapeutic use.
The findings from this study highlight the rich phytochemical and elemental profile of Cassia tora leaves and seeds, supporting their traditional use in herbal medicine. These results may contribute to the development of plant-based therapeutic agents and offer a scientific foundation for further pharmacological studies. The study concludes that Cassia tora is a promising candidate for natural drug formulation and dietary supplementation due to its diverse chemical constituents and nutritional minerals.
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